ARTICLE |
|
Year : 2008 | Volume
: 10
| Issue : 38 | Page : 27--33 |
Road traffic noise and cardiovascular risk
Wolfgang Babisch
Department of Environmental Hygiene, Federal Environment Agency, Germany
Correspondence Address:
Wolfgang Babisch Corrensplatz 1, 14195 Berlin Germany
 Source of Support: None, Conflict of Interest: None  | Check |
DOI: 10.4103/1463-1741.39005
Studies on the association between community noise and cardiovascular risk were subjected to a meta-analysis for deriving a common dose-effect curve. Peer-reviewed articles, objective assessment of exposure and outcome as well as control for confounding and multiple exposure categories were all necessary inclusion criteria. A distinction was made between descriptive (cross-sectional) and analytical (case-control, cohort) studies. Meta-analyses were carried out for two descriptive and five analytical studies for calculating a pooled dose-effect curve for the association between road traffic noise levels and the risk of myocardial infarction. No increase in risk was found below 60 dB(A) for the average A-weighted sound pressure levels during the day. An increase in risk was found with increasing noise levels above 60 dB(A) thus showing a dose-response relationship. A risk curve was estimated for the association using a polynomial fit of the data that can be used for risk assessment and the environmental burden of disease calculations.
[FULL TEXT] [PDF]*
|